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Radioactive land at Chernobyl to become solar farms

Radioactive land at Chernobyl to become solar farms

A project to regenerate the Chernobyl disaster exclusion zone with solar panels is expected to begin next month.

The solar farm, costing over $1 million is due to be constructed over an area exceeding 1000 square miles within the radioactive land in Ukraine. The land has been excluded from the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.

The project is being headed up by Ukrainian based engineering company Rodina Energy Group, along with the German renewable energy company Enerparc. There is also rumors that two Chinese businesses are planning to develop a solar power plant within the exclusion zone.

The company are intending to optimise the Chernobyl zone and have emphasized that an additional structure will be covering the damaged reactor to protect the local environment from radiation.

According to the WHO, over 4000 deaths were attributed to the radiation released from the disaster at Chernobyl. Chernobyl was regarded as the worst nuclear disaster in history. Current Russian President Vladimir Putin explained that the disaster was a “harsh lesson to humanity” on the 30th anniversary of the explosion and highlighted its ongoing environmental impact. He also recognized the bravery of those who responded to the disaster.

Whilst nuclear radiation has greatly affected the surrounding land for agriculture, forestry and hunting, the electricity transmission lines remain intact from the nuclear power plant. The land is cheap and the abundant sunlight constitutes a viable, cost-effective option for solar energy. Combined with the existing electric transmission facilities it makes sense to utilize the land for renewable energy generation.